"This country is a nation of thieves. It stole everything it has, beginning with black people. The U.S. cannot justify its existence as the policeman of the world any longer. I do not want to be a part of the American pie. The American pie means raping South Africa, beating Vietnam, beating South America, raping the Philippines, raping every country you’ve been in. I don’t want any of your blood money. I don’t want to be part of that system. We must question whether or not we want this country to continue being the wealthiest country in the world at the price of raping everybody else."– Stokely Carmichael, Honorary Prime Minister
Logo of The Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party (originally The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) was founded by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in October of 1966, in Oakland California as an African-American revolutionary leftist organization.
Original six members of the Black Panther Party (November, 1966)
Top left to right: Elbert "Big Man" Howard; Huey P. Newton (Defense Minister), Sherman Forte, Bobby Seale (Chairman).
Bottom: Reggie Forte and Little Bobby Hutton (Treasurer).
Features of the Black Panther Party:
· Practice self-defense of minorities (especially black) against U.S government.
· Attempt to establish socialism (influenced by Maoism)
Black Panther Theory: followed Malcolm's belief of international working class (regardless of color and gender), and thus united with various minority and white revolutionary groups.
The goal of the Black Panther is included in The Ten-Point Program, which emphasizes freedom, power for African communities, full employment, end to the exploitation of black people by capitalists, decent housing, education, end to police brutality and many other civil rights for black people.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.” (From the Ten-Point Program)
The Black Panther used violence as their way of fighting against the racist government system. From the beginning their focus on militancy came with a reputation for violence. They carried weapons openly and made threats against police officers.
Black Panther Party members standing in streets, armed with shotguns
Major attacks and events of the Black Panther Party:
· May 2, 1967: Armed Black Panther members entered the California legislature to protest consideration of outlawing the right of private citizens to bear arms
· 1967-1968: A number of shootouts between Black Panther members and the police leave a number of both parties dead
· April 6, 1968: A confrontation between Black Panther and the police at a building housing Panthers. Eventually, the Panthers surrendered. Results: police: 4 wounded and 1; Panther member: Bobby Hutton was killed and seven others were arrested.
The Black Panther’s collapse:
Part of the organization was already participating in local government and social services; while another group was in constant conflict with the police. Disagreements among the Party's leaders over how to confront the differences in the party’s approach to its original goal split in the organization. Some Panther leaders, such as Huey Newton and David Hilliard, favored a focus on community service coupled with self-defense; others, such as Eldridge Cleaver, embraced a more confrontational strategy.
The Party eventually fell apart due to rising legal costs and internal disputes. Brown (the first Chairwoman elected in 1974) also increased the influence of women. Brown's attempt to battle this previously pervasive sexism within the Party was very stressful for her and led to her dependence on thorazine as a way to escape the pressures of leading the Party. Brown left the Party in 1977 after a beating of a woman who organized the Party’s social programs.
By 1980, Panther membership had dwindled to 27, and the Panther-sponsored school finally closed in 1982 after Newton had used the school’s fund for his drug addiction.
Bibliography:
